A few years ago, I decided that I wanted to start eating Crab Cakes. I had never eaten any before, but for some reason they just sounded good. For months, I was OBSESSED with crab cakes. Crabcakescrabcakescrabcakes.

So finally one night, I was out with my husband and decided to order Crab Cakes. I was so excited I could hardly stand it.

They were disgusting.

You know those crab legs that you get at Red Lobster? That you dip in butter? Yeah. They didn’t taste like that at all. Not even a little bit.

I sat there and picked at them and wished I had a cheeseburger. I may sparkle on the outside…but on the inside, I have the appetite of a carnie. Funnel cakes and nachos are just fine by me, thanks.

With all this in mind, it should come as no surprise that I despise Tiramisu (espresso, espresso GAG). So…I decided to make my own version with my snack food of choice–Twinkies!! Chocolate syrup is used in place of espresso, and a combination of whipped cream cheese, Cool Whip, and sugar makes a fluffy filling.

INSTRUCTIONS

2. In the bowl of a mixer, whip cream cheese, sugar and vanilla together until combined, about a minute. Using a spatula, gently fold in Cool Whip until combined.

3. Split Twinkies vertically and lay them across the bottom of the pan, cream side up. Once the bottom is covered (it should take 5 whole Twinkies which is 10 halves), squirt chocolate sauce over the surface of the Twinkies. You want most of the surface covered, but not super thick. Carefully spread half of the cream cheese mixture over the chocolate. Repeat layers–Twinkies, chocolate, and cream. Dust the top with some cocoa powder, if desired.

4. Chill for several hours before slicing and serving.

If you’re thinking about asking me if you can substitute freshly whipped cream for the Cool Whip, the answer is no. No you can not.

This Twinkie Tiramisu is so good, I hope you love it.

Have a happy Monday!!

About Kristan

Hey cutie! Thanks for reading :) Let me introduce myself -- I'm Kristan (pronounced Kris-TANNE) a work-at-home mom living, baking, and online shopping in Fort Smith Arkansas. I have a 12 year-old son Jon David, a 4 year-old daughter Lucy, and a husband, Jess. I completely adore all of them 96% of the time (the rest of the time you can find me drinking my feelings with a box of Pinot). I hope you stay awhile -- I'd love to get to know you!

I positively hate tiramisu because I can’t stand espresso, either! (Although, for that matter I don’t really like coffee, either.) So, I was a little disappointed to see your post title. I read anyway, because I always LOVE your stories.

This sounds yummy! Added benefit, we’d all be doing our part in helping Hostess not go bankrupt!! Can’t wait to try these, and of course, my mind is going, how could I make this into a trifle I might have to play and make this into a tifle and see how it goes. Thanks for the idea!

I just found your site, and I think I love you. I love to cook – even fancy things -but I often say I have the palate of a 5-year old. No mayonaise, onions, peppers, etc. And I hate any hint of coffee and have always avoided tiramisu like the plague. I am so excited to try this!

Now, I must admit, I do love crab cakes, but I’m still a true redneck at heart. White Trash cooking will always be my favorite. You can’t go wrong with anything made with Cool Whip, Velveeta, or Campbell’s Cream of Anything soup. I will definitely be trying this soon. : )

I love tiramisu but am more than willing to try this version because I also love Cool Whip. I must say this though: crab cakes are not even remotely fancy. snooty and crab cake do not go together. I grew up in little ole shack in the woods (no exaggeration here) and my huntin’ fishin’daddy could make great crab cakes.

White trash tiramisu – I love it. I think coffee is nasty and used in fru-fru desserts by snooty people to show how grown up they are. I’m with you on the crab cakes too. Crab is wonderful (especially swimming in butter); cake is wonderful, but put the 2 together and it’s icky. I hadn’t heard about Hostess. Good thing I have a recipe for knock-0ff Hostess cupcakes.

I am so excited to try this! I hate coffee and hate coffee flavored desserts even more. Why would someone ruin perfectly good chocolate with coffee? Then you come along and restore my faith in humanity! Thanks!

I tell myself I need to try and enjoy all the snooty food and healthy food we’re supposed to like now, but I still really do love the stuff we used to eat. I fed my kids fish sticks and macaroni and cheese made from the box when they were growing up. I thought that was a great meal since they were getting home cooking. I haven’t had a box of twinkies in the cabinet in a long time out of guilt, but oh how delicious this looks!

I might have to break down and actually “make” these, hee hee. Hey – I went to Safeway Friday (can’t miss their $5 Fridays!) and they were plum out of Twinkies!!! Gah – whattodowhattodo?

Zingers, of course! No, not the same as the Twink but oh-so-sugary #yum.

I went to a company Christmas party once and on the dessert table were these little pastries in tiny muffin papers (I don’t know what those things are called :p) My BFF says “These are SO good” and I told her I think these are Zingers! From then on, every party we have we pull out the little papers and cut up some Zingers.

Oh, thank the goddess I’m not the only one with the taste buds of a carnie. I always feel so. . . low brow. I have so many foodie friends and I’m just not one of their ilk, though I sometimes try to blend in. It never works. Sometimes I sit at their dinner table about to cry because all I want is a french fry and there aren’t even any potatoes on the menu that don’t come creamed, stuffed, punched, and then squeezed out of a pastry bag. What is that about?!

I just subscribed to your blog and am I ever glad I did! This tiramisu looks awesome, and like you, I HATE espresso or anyting with even a slight coffee flavor, so I could totally see myself eating this. I agree too, with the crabcakes. I feel like I’m supposed to like these things to be normal, but I just can’t do it. I would eat a bowl of cereal or nachos for nearly every meal if I could. Thanks for a great recipe and a fun blog…can’t wait to read more!

You absolutely crack me up! I must say, despite your admition of having a fancy food limited palate, this blog inspires me to use a twinkie or two in a recipe. I adore the REAL Tiramisu, with espresso, marscapone cheese etc, but this is well worth the read…as always! Love your genuine self depricating humor. LOVE IT!

Hate to break up the party, but here in NY I saw on the news this week that they are discontinuing Twinkies. NO JOKE!!! You better stock up!! Just like the Seinfeld episode when Elaine learned the sponge was being discontinued. Anyone remember that?! Seriously…worth checking into! I heard NO MORE TWINKIES! LOVE YOUR SITE maybe we can start some sort of grassroots and stop the discontinuation of Twinkies!

I have been trying to get my husband to eat Tiramisu for SUCH A LONG TIME! He just won’t do it. He doesn’t like espresso, he doesn’t like lady fingers, he doesn’t like marscapone. I read him your recipe and he wanted it immediately. THANK YOU for making a husband-approved Tiramisu :)

I REALLY wish I’d known about this wonder when I had a box of Twinkies Saturday for the first time in about 5 years and was commenting on how crappy their quality is now. I think dumping chocolate syrup and whipped cream on them would’ve vastly improved them.

No offense, but the reason you don’t like crab cakes is because you’re in rural Arkansas. I’m not sure what was done to the crab before it made it to you, but the best cakes are made with fresh crab and with just enough stuff to hold them together and not a drop more. Come visit me in Delaware and I will take you to Sambo’s, a little tavern with no atmosphere whatsoever but the best crab cakes in the world.

The crazy thing is, the crab I ate was actually in Long Beach Washington. But I have no doubt that the crab cakes in Delaware are amazing!! If I’m ever in that area, I will be sure to give them a try :)

I agree. I lived in Baltimore for 5 years, and their crabcakes are to die for. I live in Atlanta now, though, and can’t find any decent crabcakes. My favorite Baltimore restaurant actually sends mail order crabcakes, packed on dry ice (which sounds really gross, but I have sent them to family, who loved every bite). You just bake them in your oven. Here’s their website: gandmrestaurant.com.

You had me at “no coffee.” When I saw the headlines about Hostess going bankrupt, I went out the next morning and bought myself some Twinkies and chocolate milk in memoriam. Breakfast of champions, no doubt. Long live the snack cake. Haha, I guess that’s what makes them so unhealthy.

OMG! Love this! I made this for a dinner party this past weekend (doubled the recipe) and it was huge hit. Everyone loved the name and was surprised at how easy the prep was. I absolutely adore your site and can’t wait for more recipes! Thanks so much!

LOL — I love tiramisu, and have a great appreciation for fancy food. I also love Twinkies. I usually have them only once a year. I might have to drizzle my next Twinkies with (my love, your hate) espresso now. Thanks for a chuckle and I’m glad you have created a tiramisu you can appreciate. Can’t wait to have my 2013 Twinkie fix!